Canada and Métis Nation Move Ahead on Priority Issues · Canada and Métis Nation Move Ahead on Priority Issues Continued on next ... federal cabinet ministers and Métis Nation

October 2017

Canada and Métis Nation Move Ahead on Priority Issues

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On September 21, 2017, Six federal cabinet ministers and Métis Nation leaders met in Ottawa to review progress on pr ior i ty i s sues under the Canada-Métis Nation Accord.

The first of two Métis Nation-Canada meet ings a t the ministerial level to work on priorities in advance of the next Summit with the Prime Minister conc luded wi th a jo int communique out l ining the

considerable progress made to date.

“I was very pleased with the outcome of this important meet ing” , s a id Pres ident Chartier. “We are all working systematically on this which is the most effective, in fact, the onl y way in which we can accomplish this year’s objectives. ”

The Honourab le Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans

Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, made a major announcement at the meet ing regard ing the contributions of Métis Veterans:

“The Government of Canada will begin work immediately, in partnership with the Métis Nation, to address concerns that there ha ve been pa s t discriminator y practices of Métis Nation Veterans. The scope of this work will include the service of World War II

October 2017

Métis Veterans and will consider whatever information sources are available. The outcome we seek i s to ident i fy any discriminatory practices that may be discovered and to take concrete action, in the spirit of reconciliation, to address these f ind ings . No matter the i r background, any individual who serves in Canada’s armed forces must be treated fair ly and equitably by the Government of Canada.”

Statement – Veterans Affairs Minister Recognizes Contributions of Métis Veterans

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/statement—veterans-affairs-minister-recognizes-contributions-of-metis-veterans-646615053.html?tc=eml_mycnw

Communiqué: Canada-Métis Nation Leaders Meeting

https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-northern-affairs/news/2017/09/communique_canada-metisnationleadersmeeting.html

Message from the President

October 2017

Since the establishment of the Métis National Council on March 8, 1983 the Métis Nation ha s been cons i s tent in expressing its nationhood and right to exist as a peoples with the right of self-determination. Its two main expressions of nationhood was pursuing the right of a land base and self-government. That was it’s calling card or raison d’être (reason for being).

Going into the constitutional conferencing process set to begin in a few days, the Métis Nation adopted the position that it would approach its constitutional rights based on its nationhood and right of self-determination and not on the nar rower oppor tun i ty o f Aboriginal rights afforded by s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, with the conscious decision of using s.35 as a fall back, a safety net, if the political process failed.

After five constitutional rounds of negotiations, in October 1992 that process did fail us and indeed in 1993 we did subsequently turn to the s. 35 fall back safety net and the courts, although the MMF had initiated legal action in 1981 challenging the federal government’s flawed implementation of s.31 of the Manitoba Act 1870, which they subsequently won on March 8, 2013, exactly 30 years to the day of our setting up the Métis National Council.

As we now know, to date, the courts have been able to do what federal and provincial governments would not do, but for the f a i l ed 1992 Char lot te town and Mét i s Nat ion Accords , that i s , r ecogn ize and af f i rm our Aboriginal rights. Nevertheless, we still have a long way to go in the fu l l r ecogn i t ion and implementation of our rights.

In the meantime, with the Trudeau government, the Métis Nat ion ha s been af forded another opportunity to pursue our rights through political processes: the Permanent Bilateral Mechanism and the Section 35 rights reconciliation process with our five Governing Members. Hard bargaining will be the order of the day. Success lies in our hands.

On the world stage, the Métis Nation has made many inroads and has since 1983 also been pol i t ica l l y act ive , both a s participants in various meetings and a s a l eader in the

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- Métis Nation on the World Stage

October 2017

international Indigenous world community through the World Council of Indigenous Peoples (WCIP ) wh ich p layed an instrumental role in bringing the Indigenous peoples’ reality to the United Nations between 1975 to 1997.

Today, the Métis Nation is working with the Assembly of First Nations and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami in Canada and several national Indian organizations in South and Central America to re-establish an Ind igenous l eaders organization, this one solely for the Indigenous peoples and nations of the Americas and the Caribbean.

The objective is to convene a founding meeting of the new Americas Indigenous leaders’ organization in March 2018 to coincide with the Summits of the Americas made up of the heads of state (Prime Ministers and Pres idents ) f rom the Organizat ion of American States (OAS) which meets every three years. Next year’s Summit is going to take place in Lima, Peru.

With the formation of this Indigenous leaders organization, the Métis Nation will once again be taking a leading role in the international Indigenous world. Of course, this will not be possible without financial assistance from the government

of Canada, in the same way that it previously provided fiscal resources to the WCIP. With Pr ime Min i s te r Tr udeau ’s positive statements in the many speeches he has made with respect to the importance of his relationship with Indigenous peoples and his nation to nation approach, he has also referenced the need to dea l w i th Indigenous peoples and issues internationally. This bodes well for Canada’s continuing fiscal support for an international Ind igenous peop les ’ organization in the Americas.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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• Generation Energy Conference Oct 11-12 Winnipeg, MB

• International Indigenous Education Conference Oct 16-18 Darwin,Australia

• Community Based Climate Modernization Symposium Nov 7-9 Winnipeg, MB

• FPT Forum on Status of Women Nov 8-10 Toronto, ON

• Louis Riel Day Nov 16

October 2017

Métis Nation Meets with Forest Ministers

MNC President Chartier met with federal and provincial Forest Ministers on resource and wildlife management issues at the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers conference on September 15, 2017, in Ottawa.

Pres ident Char t ie r and Assembly of First Nations Forestry Council member Chief Bill Williams met with Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr during the conference of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) in Ottawa from September 13 to 15. They discussed a number of issues inc lud ing wi ld l and f i re , softwood lumber, bioenergy to reduce diesel in r ura l and remote communities, workforce development and opportunities for more robust Indigenous inclusion in federal, provincial and territorial fora such as the CCFM.

President Chartier and Chief Wi l l i ams a l so d i scussed opportunities to support the management of caribou habitat with federal, provincial, and terr itor ia l Ministers . This interaction informed Ministerial discussions to proceed with

work to protect and recover caribou through the Species at Risk Act and the development of a new National Caribou Knowledge Consortium that will provide a pan-Canadian mechanism for players to share knowledge.

These discussions build on the approach taken with First Nations, Métis Nation and Inuit national representatives at the August 14-15 Energy and Mines Ministerial Conference in S t . Andre w ’s , Ne w Brunswick.

According to President Chartier : ”Fores t r y i s sues a re o f

paramount importance to Métis Nation communities in western Canada . We are impacted hea v i l y by re source development, climate change, emergency and wi ld l i f e mana gement . We ha ve to participate in the development of policy in these areas to secure our livelihoods and well-being, and we have much to contribute if these policies are to be success fu l l y app l i ed . We welcome the opportunity to co l l aborate wi th federa l , p ro v inc ia l and te r r i tor i a l governments in shaping these policies that can contribute to responsible and sustainable development.”

October 2017

Métis Nation meets with Federal Provincial Tourism Ministers

On Thursday, September 28th President Chartier, along with a representative of the AFN met with ministers responsible for tourism, which was chaired by the Hon. Bardish Chagger for Canada and the Hon. Eleanor McMahon from Ontario.

The Métis Nation was invited and asked to address heritage and cultural sites in addition to tourism. President Chartier’s presentation addressed some of

the ma in i s sues and developments and highlighted Métis Crossing in Alberta, the Batoche site development and the pending Métis National Heritage Centre in Winnipeg. Bes ides the potent ia l fo r developing and operating such sites, President Chartier also addressed the potential for traditional forms of tourism such as hunting and fishing, but also stressed the great potential for eco-tourism.

Following the presentations there were a number o f exchanges which elaborated on the potential for the promotion of Indigenous tourism, including establishment of museums and heritage centres, as well as the potential for increased sale of local handicrafts which would benef i t f rom an expanded tourism base.

October 2017

RCMP to Return Louis Riel Artifacts to Métis Nation

RCMP and Métis Nation sign agreement to transfer Riel possessions to Métis National Heritage Centre soon to be constructed in Winnipeg.

At the Annua l Genera l Assembly of the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg Sept. 22-24, 2017, the Métis Nation in Manitoba celebrated the MMF’s 5oth anniversary and twenty year s o f dynamic leadership of President David Chartrand.

The event was punctuated by the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the return of Louis Riel artifacts to the MMF and the MNC by RCMP Deputy Commissioner Kevin Brosseau , MMF Pres ident David Chartrand and MNC President Clément Chartier. The artifacts including a crucifix and hunting knife of the revered Métis Nation leader will be t rans fe r red to the Mét i s National Heritage Centre that will soon be constructed on the site of Upper Fort Garry in

Winnipeg where Riel’s Métis Provisional Government was installed in 1869-70.

Mét i s Nat ion Pres ident Char t ie r jo ined in the celebration of the achievements of the MMF and President Chartrand along with a number of dignitaries including the Hon. Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources for the Government of Canada, Hon. Eileen Clarke, Minister of Indigenous & Northern Affairs for the Province of Manitoba, and Hon. Rochelle Squires, Min i s te r o f Sus ta inab le

Development for the Province of Manitoba.

The Genera l Assembl y highlighted the steady progress being made by the MMF in its negotiation of a land claim and self-government agreement with Canada and the important par tnersh ips and re l a ted business work that the MFF is conducting with Manitoba Hydro and Enbridge whose Presidents were on hand to salute the MMF and President Chartrand.

October 2017

MNBC Annual General Assembly

President Chartier attended the second day of the AGA in Dawson Creek , BC on September 24th and made a presentation to the delegates updating them on the many developments which have taken place since he spoke to them at AGA 2016.

Of particular note, President Chartier updated them on the three major federal initiatives which have unfolded this year: the Permanent B i l a te ra l Mechanism which witnessed the concluding of a Canada-Métis

Nation Accord on April 13, 2017, the sect ion 3 5 r i ghts reconc i l i a t ion processes between Canada and the Governing Members of the Métis National Council and the Working Group of Ministers cha i red by the Hon. Jody Wilson -Raybould which is reviewing all federal legislation, policies and practices which impact Indigenous peoples.

Pres ident Char t ie r a l so explained what he believed wou ld be a pos i t i ve development for the Métis

Nation by the restructuring of the Ind igenous Af fa i r s department, with Dr. Bennett now concentrat ing on the Crown – Ind igenous relationship, and the continued federal government pursuit of a nation-to-nation, government-to-government with the Métis Nation.

Pres ident Char t ie r a l so responded to a number of questions.

October 2017

Pathways to Canada Target 1

From September 25 -28th, a Reg iona l Gather ing on Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This was the last of four such gatherings which took place across Canada.

The Métis Nation had close to 20 delegates from across the homeland in attendance, which was organized by Will Goodon who sits on the Indigenous Circle of Experts and ensures

that the Mét i s Nat ion’s perspectives and participation are included.

This Pathways initiative is a Pan -Canadian one be ing undertaken in partnership between Indigenous peoples, federal, provincial and territorial go ver nments and other interested parties in order to produce a pathway, grounded in tradit ional knowledge and science to achieve Canada’s

commitment to setting aside as a conservation measure at least 17% of Canada’s lands and inland waters by 2020.

President Chartier was a guest speaker at the luncheon on September 26th and gave an overview of the rights of the Métis Nation and the current nation-to-nation process being engaged in with the government of Canada.

September 2017

Koushkoupayh Days 2017

The annual Koushkoupayh (Wake up) Days was held on September 2 and 3 rd , 34 kilometers south of Brandon, Manitoba in the beaut i fu l Riverside Valley. The weekend consisted of camping, fiddle music, dance, song, and Métis

displays featuring cultural items, as well as traditional Métis foods.

President Chartier, along with Regional Vice-President Leah LaPlante and Will Goodon, Regional Director were among

the dignitaries who spoke at the opening of the weekend event.

The line-up of musical talent and dancers was next to none, and a good time was had by all.

Office of the President

Office of the President Métis Nation

#4 - 340 MacLaren Street Ottawa, ON K2P 0M6

(800) 928-6330 www.metisnation.ca [email protected]